Students who commenced study in 2016 should refer to this course entry for direction on the requirements; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course.

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours)

Undergraduate - Course

Commencement year

This course entry applies to students commencing this course in 2016 and should be read in conjunction with information provided in the 'Faculty information' section of this Handbook by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

The clinical component of this course requires students to travel to a variety of health services and agencies, including a rural placement. Students are required to be flexible, as hours of work and attendance days may vary.

Award/s

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours)

Description

Physiotherapists are health care professionals who use exercise, movement analysis, manual therapy and specialist techniques to restore, improve and promote health. This course will develop the knowledge and skills you need to practice as a physiotherapist, preparing you for a range of career opportunities working independently or as part of a team of healthcare professionals.

The focus of the early part of the course is on the conditions for which people typically seek physiotherapy. You will study the biomedical and behavioural sciences (anatomy, biomechanics, kinesiology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, psychology, radiology, sociology) and lay the foundations for physiotherapy practice and research, using a problem-based and patient-centred approach to learning.

In the later years you move to the clinical setting, developing core knowledge and skills and practice in the delivery of physiotherapy services under the supervision of experienced physiotherapists. This clinical education will occur in a diversity of settings, including metropolitan and rural health services, with challenges increasing in years three and four.

Your skills will be developed through small group learning with some time each semester spent working with students enrolled in other health science courses (ie, occupational therapy, nursing, paramedic, medical imaging, nutrition and dietetics, social work), enabling you to experience interdisciplinary service delivery and inter-professional education.

You will learn from highly trained and experienced physiotherapists who are skilled in education and research and gain exposure to areas in which you could later specialise, such as:

cardiorespiratory care - to help to people with heart or lung problems

musculoskeletal care - often delivered in sports or spinal physiotherapy, arthritis management and rehabilitation after reconstructive or joint replacement surgery.

After successfully completing this course, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, which enables graduates to practice in all states and territories. Physiotherapists are in demand across all fields of modern health care. Physiotherapists work in public and private hospitals, health centres, sports medicine clinics, maternity hospitals, rehabilitation centres, aged-care facilities and in private practices, as well as in health promotion, education, management and research. This course offers the potential of a lifetime of challenges, opportunities and rewards.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will:

have a standard of knowledge, skills and technical competency appropriate for an entry level practitioner in physiotherapy

be prepared to maintain high standards in your professional life through a commitment to lifelong learning

be aware of the latest advances in physiotherapy and related fields, and be positioned to engage in the expanding knowledge base

appreciate the value of research and be skilled at accessing, critically appraising and applying the best available evidence to your everyday practice

be an effective user of relevant technology

understand and show respect for the roles of other professionals and be able to work collaboratively within the discipline of physiotherapy and as part of a multidisciplinary team

have the knowledge and skills to practise in a safe and ethical manner in relation to yourself, your clients and the community

be client-centred in your approach, respecting the right of clients and their support networks to participate in decision-making

demonstrate awareness that people's health encompasses their activities and participation as well as their body structures and functions, personal and environmental factors

be able to supervise, manage and take responsibility, as appropriate, when working in collaboration with other professionals, students, clients and their support networks

achieve a breadth of education with a tolerance for ambiguity and differing views

be reflective and compassionate, with a concern for issues of equity, equality, humanity and social justice

have the ability to learn independently and be innovative in your approach to analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving and evaluation

be able to effectively and efficiently communicate with other professionals, clients and the public

possess appropriate oral, written and IT skills, including the ability to present coherent argument, negotiate effectively and manage conflict

demonstrate awareness of the social, ethical, economic, political and environmental context of illness, health and wellbeing

be committed to the health of populations as well as individuals and be proactive in prevention-oriented physiotherapy practice and health promotion

understand the social and ethical dimensions of physiotherapy professional activities

integrate knowledge of relevant public policy and health and social care systems into your practice

be able to work effectively with a diverse range of people and settings

demonstrate research literacy, critical appraisal skills, and the ability to conduct quality research projects.

Research

There is an advanced version of this course M3003 Bachelor of Physiotherapy Advanced - Research (Honours) which provides a research pathway for students wishing to take Masters by Research or PhD courses in the future. If you complete the first year of this course with consistently high performance (top 10%) in PTY1011 Physiotherapy 1 and PTY1022 Physiotherapy 2 and in sub-unit assessment of research related activities you will be eligible for admission to Year 2 of the Advanced - Research course.

Special requirements

Students must refer to the information available on the special requirements outlined below. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they have the correct documentation.

This policy, and the associated procedures require that students have certain specified vaccinations, and have their blood borne virus status determined, before they commence a clinical placement. Students who have not complied with this policy may not be able to undertake clinical placement, with the attendant academic consequences.

Prospective students are provided detailed information on the effect of blood borne virus infection on the scope of practice of health care workers. Students who test positive to a blood borne virus (including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C) will be required to consult a specialist medical practitioner approved by the faculty to provide advice on any necessary restrictions on work practices to protect patients and others from infection.

First aid

In addition to the units outlined below, students will complete their 'Apply First Aid' certificate as part of their studies.

Fieldwork

Clinical practice units

This course requires students to undertake off-campus rural and metropolitan clinical placements. In the clinical setting students will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Attendance is mandatory for the clinical component of each unit.

Where a student's skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the clinical component of the unit will be denied. A student may be withdrawn from a clinical practicum if required skills and knowledge are deemed inadequate, or on other grounds deemed appropriate by the head of department.

Clinical expenses

You are responsible for all travel and accommodation expenses during clinical placement. Uniforms and accessories are required for clinical placements and you will be notified regarding purchase arrangements upon commencement.

Structure

The course provides an interdisciplinary approach to study of physiotherapy, with five themes that combine to underpin physiotherapy practice: personal and professional development; population, society and health; fundamental knowledge for health sciences; applied practice and research. These themes are interwoven in units throughout the course.

Part A. Personal and professional development

Through these studies you will develop the personal attributes and skills to make the transition from student to physiotherapist. These include verbal and written communication skills, relevant ethical and legal issues, and understanding the physiotherapy profession.

Part B. Population society and health

These studies address the broader society and population context and issues that impact upon physiotherapy practice, underpinned by an internationally accepted socio-ecological model of health.

Part C. Fundamental knowledge for the health sciences

This theme provides the knowledge and skills required for physiotherapy clinical practice. It includes biomedical and behavioural sciences as well as the theory of physiotherapy practice.

Part D. Applied practice

This theme addresses clinical competencies for physiotherapy practice. It focuses on the incorporation of the best available research evidence with the clinical reasoning skills of assessment, management, evaluation and health care across the lifespan and across a spectrum of patient environments and circumstances.

Part E. Research

Studies under this theme develop the knowledge and skills to locate, interpret and critically evaluate research relevant to physiotherapy practice.

Requirements

This course comprises 192 points of prescribed physiotherapy study.

The course develops through five themes that combine to underpin physiotherapy practice: personal and professional development; population, society and health; fundamental knowledge for health sciences; applied practice and research. These themes are interwoven in the units throughout the course.

Alternative exit(s)

You may exit this course early and apply to graduate with the Bachelor of Human Sciences, provided you have successfully completed at least 144 credit points of the program including the following units: PTY1011, PTY1022, PTY2031, PTY2042, PTY3051, PTY3162, PTY3262, PTY3362, PTY3462 (or equivalent level 3 units with permission).